Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-11-17
A SEASONS REPoRr.
The Adsentui e. and Experiences OF .. Gfrcn.
Manager.


Howl q SHORTS Mighty Allied Circus
and Menagerie. which recently went
into winter quarters in New Jersey:
''Yours is at hand and 1 gladly re-
ply. L am pleased to learn that YOU
intend writing a book on the subject of
fThe Circus and Other Noxious Institu-
hons. and L chenrfully give you all the
information in my power concerning
our past season.
| 1--WE are somewhat unfortunate in
several things, one of them being our
elephant. Not knowing the feeling of
the public on elephants, we started OCT
with milk-white sacred elephant from
Interior India, captured at the usual
great expense and appalling sacrifice
of human life. We had only reached
JOhnson's Greek. o., when the white
wash began to flake and rub off, which
necessitated the application of two
coats OF white paint at considerable
| expense. This weathercracked and
blistered some, and when we reached
Poseyville, Ind, the public was wild
for black elephant, and it took three
coats OF dark paint. applied at some
expense. but fortunately no loss of life,
to please 'em. When we reached Hi
nois. 1 found by keeping my finger on
the public pulse that l wanted a trick
elephant, and ours was accordingly
trained to stand on IA barrel and kick
at the clown. The paint was allowed
to come off gradually, and when we
reached the Mississippi river our ele-
phant showed several square yards of
L.. IL Il
number of spots of simple elephant
''Our orang-outang left us at KeOkuk,
Ia. going to work on a new livery
stable at that place, carrying a hod.
This forced me to put on mis- skin
and grab the bars of the cage and howl
for three hours day myself.
'.Our mermaid was struck by light
ming at Paris. Mo-. and the sheet-iron
ripped down the back.
''Our lion went on Il strike early in
the season and refused to roar. This
made it necessary for the treasurer.
after he got through selling tickets. to
get down behind the cage and roar for
him, while canvasman pried the furi-
Gus beasts mouth open with picket
This was satisfactory TO the public, but
the treasurer throat was badly cal
loused.
can inquisitive old gentleman at
Atchison, Kan, punched the hump off
our sacred cow with an umbrella and
the audience used it for football.
completely running it. The buffalo in
our Wild West show about the same
time got so it would not run for the
cowboys, and the ringmaster was
obliged to go ahead of it with an ear of
corn. l soon after traded with man
from Hay Greek township for a buffalo
with a little more spirit
During the season we gave 200 per
formances; lied about the next per-
Torrance 259 times; number of specta- |
tors shot by cowboys. 10; number of
cowboys injured by falling from horses,
10; number of men who attempted tc
ride the trick mule in Missouri, p; in |
all other States. l. We escaped with |
out paying our license twelve times; the |
zebra was restriped four times; the |
clown attempted a new joke one !
time, which was met with groans |
and eggs. Number of questions |
asked by spectators, 64,OO0,000; |
number of answers given, 4: |
number of answers understood, o. |
The proprietors made disrespectful re, |
marks concerning the Interstate Com. |
merce law $40. 900 times One hundred /
and thirty thousand tickets were sold. !
II. 800 complimentaries issued and 11a I
Kansas men passed in on account OF /
bringing hay for the elephant. Num- |
Der of small boys who paid. "a; number
who crawled under the tent. 13S. 274.
Number of Iowa men who had spotted
horses they wished to sell, LOO
1--WE have gone into winter quarters
here and now have our agents ransaek,
ing the known earth for curiosities.
Nothing is purchased which is not war.
ranted to howl all summer. as the
treasurer and myself do not feel that
we could in justice to ourselves or the
public again undertake to conduct the
howl department. for the season.
'.Our artists will be yariouSly EN-.
ployed during the winter. SignoI
Potts, the bareback rider, and NJ. !
Skinner, the human snake, are engaged !
with grand double improved Uncle |
Toms Cabin" company, each repre- |
senting Uncle Tom. Signor Potts dying |
at the right of the stage in the last act, !
as usual, and subsequently appearing |
to the audience on the celestial shore, /
while NJ. Skinner RECEIVERS ON the left /
and dances u double-shuffie and retires !
under cover of a cloud of dust.
~ think l may safely say that the |
prospect for next year is very fatter-
ing. We are having our bills printed
with three new colors added and viii |
have patent trumpet arrangement at
tached to the mouth of the man who
sells tickets for the side-show which